Microbial enrichment evaluation during the fermentation of ensiling pruned branches from tea plants.

To investigate new disposal methods for agricultural waste from tea plantations, the dynamics of chemical composition and microbial populations of tea plant pruning waste during 60 days of ensiling were studied. The results showed that the pH value decreased markedly in the initial stage and then stabilized after Day 21 (approximately 3.9). At the end of ensiling, lactic and acetic acids were enriched in the silage, while most of the characteristic components of tea, including polyphenols, theanine, and caffeine, were well preserved. Microbiological analysis showed that the relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased rapidly from Day 3 (73.2%), reaching 98.6%. In addition, the dynamics of the microbial community during fermentation were related to its chemical composition and fermentation metabolites. In summary, silage can be an effective approach for treating and utilizing agricultural waste from tea plant pruning.

Exploring the bacterial community and fermentation characteristics during silage fermentation of abandoned fresh tea leaves.

The potential application of silage fermentation on abandoned fresh tea leaves (AFTL) was investigated. Dynamic profiles of fermentation-related components, characteristic components and the bacterial community of AFTL during ensiling were analysed. The results showed that after ensiling for 60 days, the concentrations of lactic, acetic and propionic acid increased, whereas a high pH value (4.80) and NH3-N content (106 g/kg TN) were detected. Characteristic components, including caffeine, polyphenols, theanine and catechins, were well preserved. The microbial community changed significantly, and Lactobacillus (63.6%) became the dominant phylum. Spearman rank correlation revealed a positive correlation between lactic acid concentration and the abundance of Lactobacillus (63.6%) and Klebsiella (25.0%), whereas the abundance of Klebsiella was negatively correlated with catechin concentration. In conclusion, ensiling could be an effective utilization for AFTL and provides a new idea for utilizing idle resources on tea plantations.